Come Dine With Me taxi stopped by Police Scotland in Uddingston

Filming of TV show halted after cops spot vehicle travelling slowly at 3am.

Curious police officers stopped the famous Come Dine With Me black cab in Uddingston — as a Hamilton contestant filmed scenes in the back.

Yvonne Finlayson, of Barncluith, had just left the house of fellow TV show contestant Graeme Curley when cops flashed them to pull over during filming in February.

The officers were thought to have been suspicious of the taxi that was travelling at a slow speed along Old Edinburgh Road in the early hours.

They took action to find out what was going on.

Married mum-of-two Yvonne explained: “We were filming my scoring scenes in the back of the taxi on the way home from Graeme’s house at around 3am.

“The producers asked the driver to go ever-so-slow along the road for filming purposes so you can’t hear engine noise or see movement from bumps in the road when it goes on air.

“We were full swing into filming when the blue flashing light started going off behind us.

“We pulled over and two officers approached the car and asked us what we were up to.

“I think they thought there was a spot of kerb-crawling going on!”

Yvonne said it was undoubtedly one of the funniest moments of the entire week and enjoyed a good chuckle with the crew afterwards.

She added: “We had to explain to the officers that there was no wrong-doing and, in fact, we were filming for Come Dine With Me.

“It was hilarious. Here I was sitting in the back of a black cab being filmed with my score card up giving Graeme seven points for his dinner, when the police pulled us over.

“The look on their faces when they saw all the camera equipment, lights and four people in the back of the cab was priceless.

“They must have wondered what on earth they were going to be confronted with.

“The officers were in stitches and they couldn’t believe Come Dine With Me was in the area.”

Police Scotland commented this week: “In light of recent incidents of theft of property in both premises and vehicles, officers are vigilant in this area in respect of vehicles or people acting out of character, in particular at such times of the morning.

“Luckily, on this occasion, it appeared to have been perfectly innocent.”

Yvonne, a bio-chemist, was seen on Channel 4 all last week (May 5 to 9) serving up a fusion of food inspired by Heston Blumenthal to her guests including a starter of Amusez Votre Bouche followed by stuffed tomato, focaccia bread and spicey carrot soup, a main of Bru butt chicken and her melted munroe dessert

The 42-year-old came last in the competition, but insisted it was a “once in a lifetime” experience.

She explained: “All of the comments made about my cooking were fair points and it was all in good jest.

“I had a good laugh at my kitchen scenes as I had every gadget and contraption under the sun and really I only know how to use the tap.

“It’s well-known among my family and friends that I’m the worst cook ever and to be honest my mum sends us our dinner down in a tupperware tub most nights.

“But, I’m really pleased I did it, and I’ve made some great friends in Graeme and Erwin.”

Uddingston man Graeme Curley has become a television star after scooping the top prize in Channel 4’s popular Come Dine With Me.

Graeme (29), beat off competition from his four rivals to be named the best host in the show last week. He scored 29 out of 40 for his meat-themed evening when he served sticky back ribs, steak and fruit pudding.

Graeme, who grew up in Rutherglen but now lives in Quarry Brae Gardens in Uddingston, scooped a first prize of £1000.

And he admits the whole week was one of the best experiences of his life, saying: “It was brilliant fun, just great. I really enjoyed it.

“You’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously to do it.

“I think the show was a fair representation of the evening, I think all five shows were. Everyone knew it was a TV show and things would be said about each other, so you had to have a thick skin.

“I knew as the week progressed there was only likely to be two winners, which was myself or Michelle. I knew it would be close but I was delighted to win.”

The show features contestants attending dinner parties and then grading the night.

It has become a massive hit for Channel Four, particularly due to the

sarcastic nature of the commentary by David Lamb.

Graeme, who has worked in his family’s shop, W&J Curley’s in Hamilton Road, Cambuslang, since he was 16, went with a meaty menu.

The shop has been in his family since 1885, with Graeme the fourth generation of Curleys.

His choice to cut the meat up in front of his guests, plus use beef suet to make the dough for his dessert, evoked some stunned responses - but he was glad it all worked out.

He said: “I went on the show because I wanted to showcase the quality of meat from the shop.

“But I also knew I could cook. It doesn’t have to be really extravagant, and I wanted to showcase that too.

“Obviously it was a bit controversial when I brought out the raw meat, but I think once I cooked it they all loved it. They all took some of the leftovers home with them.

“Some people said the ribs weren’t really for a dinner party, but I wanted us to get our hands dirty and it brought us all closer together.”

Since filming in February, Graeme has struck up friendships with the other four contestants – former WAG and business manager Alison Bennett, hairdresser Michelle Blackett, biochemist Yvonne Finlayson, and student and ballet dancer Erwin Orduz.

He admits that an unlikely bro-mance developed between himself and Erwin, culminating in Graeme agreeing to attend a nudist barbeque if Erwin would join him and his friends at a football match.

He said: “I think the producers thought there would be a clash between myself and Erwin but we got on like a house on fire.

“We’ve all stayed in touch. In fact, last week we had lunch and a few drinks and were at Alison’s birthday party a few weeks ago.”

Graeme will use the winnings to take himself and wife, Hazel, on holiday to Cyprus.

He said: “Hazel absolutely loved it, and she’s not surprised some people said I was feminine.

“I think everyone thinks a butcher needs to be a big, burly guy.”

Graeme appeared last Tuesday night (May 6) on the show. To see his episode, go to www.channel4.com/programmes/come-dine-with-me/4od.